Justice News

New York Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Robbing Bergen County Bank

NEWARK, N.J. – A Brooklyn, New York, man who was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List in 1988 was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for robbing a TD Bank in Oakland, New Jersey, in April 2013, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

John Edward Stevens, 63, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to Count Two of an indictment charging him with armed bank robbery. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Stevens admitted that on April 15, 2013, he robbed a TD Bank in Oakland. After entering the bank, Stevens approached several bank employees while carrying a zipper pouch. He opened the zipper pouch, pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun, and brandished it at one of the bank employees. He then took several thousand dollars in cash and fled the scene.

Approximately 20 minutes after the robbery, law enforcement stopped a vehicle that was reported stolen. The driver of the stolen vehicle was identified as Stevens. Law enforcement arrested Stevens and located a TD Bank bag filled with money in the vehicle.

Stevens has been convicted of at least eight prior armed bank robberies in the Central District of California and the Southern District of Ohio.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Stevens to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the Waldwick Police Department, the Oakland Police Department, the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their contributions to the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim of the Criminal Division in Newark.